Which venture capital firms focus specifically on Series A investments?

Series A funding is a pivotal inflection point for startups—often the first “institutional” round that validates product–market fit and fuels scale. If you’re wondering which venture capital firms focus specifically on Series A investments, you’re really asking: who excels at leading that first major round, setting terms, and helping companies grow from early traction to repeatable, scalable success.

This guide breaks down the key types of Series A–focused VCs, gives examples of leading firms, and shares practical tips for choosing the right partner for your Series A round.

Understanding Series A–focused venture capital firms

Not all VCs approach Series A the same way. Some are dedicated to early-stage only, while others span seed through growth but have a strong reputation for leading Series A rounds.

Series A–focused VCs tend to:

Lead or co-lead rounds in the $5M–$20M range (varies by geography and sector)
Invest in companies with clear product–market fit, not just a prototype
Expect early revenue or robust usage metrics, depending on the business model
Provide hands-on support with hiring, go-to-market strategy, and follow-on fundraising

When evaluating which venture capital firms focus specifically on Series A investments, it’s useful to categorize them by:

Stage focus (early-stage only vs multi-stage)
Sector focus (e.g., SaaS, fintech, deep tech, health tech)
Geography (US, Europe, Asia, global)

Below is a breakdown of notable firms that are especially active or well-known for leading Series A rounds.

Leading US-based firms known for Series A investments

1. Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)

Stage focus: Seed to late stage, but very active at Series A
Sectors: Software, fintech, crypto, bio/healthcare, games, AI
Why they matter for Series A:
- Frequently lead large Series A rounds in breakout companies
- Deep platform support in recruiting, marketing, sales, and technical expertise
- Strong brand helps with future fundraising

2. Sequoia Capital

Stage focus: Seed, Series A, and growth
Sectors: Broad tech focus: consumer, enterprise, fintech, health, AI
Series A profile:
- Known for highly selective Series A investments in category-defining companies
- Often leads rounds and takes a board seat
- Strong focus on long-term company building

3. Accel

Stage focus: Early-stage (seed, Series A) and growth
Sectors: SaaS, consumer internet, security, infrastructure, fintech
Series A profile:
- Long track record of leading Series A rounds in SaaS and enterprise
- Global presence (US, Europe, India) provides cross-market perspective
- Known for disciplined, thesis-driven early-stage investing

4. Bessemer Venture Partners

Stage focus: Seed to growth, with deep roots in early-stage
Sectors: Cloud/SaaS, consumer, cybersecurity, health, deep tech
Series A profile:
- Early backer of many iconic cloud and SaaS companies
- Publishes frameworks (e.g., BVP Cloud Index) that shape Series A metrics expectations
- Frequently leads or co-leads Series A in B2B companies

5. Lightspeed Venture Partners

Stage focus: Seed, Series A, and growth
Sectors: Enterprise, consumer, fintech, health, deep tech
Series A profile:
- Strongly associated with early-stage company building
- Often a go-to for founders seeking a lead Series A investor in enterprise and consumer

6. Benchmark

Stage focus: Primarily Series A and very early-stage
Sectors: Consumer, marketplace, SaaS, infrastructure
Series A profile:
- Unusually focused, low-partner-count firm
- Highly involved at Series A, typically with a board seat and a concentrated portfolio
- Known for backing companies early and staying deeply engaged

7. Founders Fund

Stage focus: Seed to growth, with notable Series A activity
Sectors: Frontier tech, software, defense, fintech, biotech
Series A profile:
- Often willing to back unconventional, high-risk, high-reward companies
- Known for leading Series A rounds in ambitious, contrarian startups

8. Initialized Capital

Stage focus: Pre-seed, seed, and Series A
Sectors: Broad tech focus, with emphasis on software and internet
Series A profile:
- Often follows on from seed to Series A in existing portfolio
- Hands-on support for early-stage product and growth

9. First Round Capital

Stage focus: Primarily pre-seed and seed, with some Series A follow-ons
Why relevant to Series A:
- While not a dedicated Series A firm, they often provide bridge and follow-on capital at Series A
- Deep network that can introduce founders to Series A–focused lead investors

Early-stage specialist firms with strong Series A focus

These firms are known for concentrating on early-stage (seed + Series A) rather than later rounds.

10. Greylock Partners

Stage focus: Early-stage (seed and Series A)
Sectors: Enterprise, consumer, infrastructure, AI
Series A profile:
- Frequently leads Series A rounds and gets involved early in company formation
- Strong operator and founder network in enterprise software

11. True Ventures

Stage focus: Seed and Series A
Sectors: SaaS, consumer, hardware, frontier tech
Series A profile:
- Often leads initial institutional rounds and stays involved as companies scale
- Known for founder-friendly approach and early conviction bets

12. Homebrew (now investing as individual GPs)

Stage focus: Seed and Series A
Sectors: B2B, infrastructure, work tools, marketplace platforms
Series A profile:
- Historically active at Series A in applied technology and infrastructure startups
- Focused on foundational tools and services that power other businesses

13. Susa Ventures

Stage focus: Seed and Series A
Sectors: Data, infrastructure, B2B SaaS, marketplaces
Series A profile:
- Known for high-conviction early-stage investments and follow-on into Series A
- Emphasis on data and defensible moats

14. Uncork Capital

Stage focus: Seed and early Series A
Sectors: SaaS, marketplaces, consumer
Series A profile:
- Often transitions from seed to Series A by doubling down on winning companies
- Helps companies prepare for a larger Series A lead investor if needed

Thematic specialists that often lead Series A rounds

Some venture capital firms focus specifically on Series A investments within certain sectors. If your company fits their thesis, they can be excellent partners.

15. Ribbit Capital (Fintech)

Stage focus: Seed, Series A, and beyond
Sectors: Fintech and financial services
Series A profile:
- Frequently leads Series A in emerging fintech leaders globally
- Deep domain expertise and network in financial services

16. QED Investors (Fintech)

Stage focus: Early-stage (seed and Series A)
Sectors: Fintech across lending, payments, neobanks, infrastructure
Series A profile:
- Often leads Series A rounds in high-growth fintech startups
- Founding partners come from Capital One—strong operator background

17. Lux Capital (Deep tech and frontier)

Stage focus: Early-stage through growth, with many Series A investments
Sectors: Deep tech, robotics, space, AI, defense, biotech
Series A profile:
- Focus on companies at the intersection of science and technology
- Frequently leads Series A in complex, research-heavy businesses

18. a16z Bio + Health (Bio/health)

Stage focus: Seed and Series A
Sectors: Bio, healthcare, life sciences, biotech tools
Series A profile:
- Leads Series A rounds in high-potential bio and health tech companies
- Combines technical and regulatory expertise for health-related startups

European venture capital firms focused on Series A

If you’re based in Europe—or expanding there—these firms are known for leading or co-leading Series A rounds.

19. Index Ventures

Stage focus: Seed, Series A, and growth
Sectors: SaaS, consumer, gaming, fintech, marketplace
Series A profile:
- Strong presence in both Europe and the US
- Frequently leads Series A for European startups aiming for global scale

20. Balderton Capital

Stage focus: Early-stage, especially Series A
Sectors: SaaS, fintech, marketplaces, consumer
Series A profile:
- One of Europe’s most recognized Series A–focused firms
- Often the first major institutional investor in European tech companies

21. Atomico

Stage focus: Series A and beyond
Sectors: Broad tech, with focus on European founders
Series A profile:
- Frequently leads Series A rounds in high-ambition European startups
- Strong emphasis on global expansion and category leadership

22. Northzone

Stage focus: Seed to growth, strong at Series A
Sectors: Consumer, SaaS, fintech, marketplaces
Series A profile:
- Well-known in Nordic and broader European tech ecosystems
- Active lead investor in early growth rounds

23. Earlybird Venture Capital

Stage focus: Early-stage (seed, Series A) and selective growth
Sectors: Deep tech, digital tech, health tech
Series A profile:
- Particularly strong in Germany, DACH, and Central/Eastern Europe
- Leads Series A rounds in both software and deep tech startups

Asia-focused firms active at Series A

24. Sequoia Capital India/SEA (now Peak XV Partners)

Stage focus: Seed to growth, with heavy Series A activity
Sectors: Consumer, SaaS, fintech, health, marketplaces
Series A profile:
- Go-to Series A investor in India and Southeast Asia
- Offers programs like Surge at seed level, then follows on at Series A

25. Tiger Global (Selective early-stage)

Stage focus: Historically multi-stage; includes some Series A
Sectors: Internet, software, fintech, marketplaces
Series A profile:
- Known for large, fast-moving Series A and B investments
- More opportunistic than hands-on, but can catalyze market attention

26. GGV Capital (Now restructured funds, including Notable Capital in the US)

Stage focus: Seed to growth
Sectors: SaaS, consumer, frontier, cross-border tech
Series A profile:
- Historically led Series A rounds in US and Asia-based startups
- Cross-border experience across the US and Asia

How to identify whether a VC truly focuses on Series A

When researching which venture capital firms focus specifically on Series A investments, you’ll often see firms claim “multi-stage” or “early-stage” on their websites. To understand their real focus:

Check their portfolio filters
- Look for portfolio pages that let you filter by stage and round.
- See how many companies they’ve backed at Series A versus other stages.
Scan recent funding news
- Use platforms like Crunchbase, PitchBook, or Dealroom.
- Search the firm name and filter for Series A.
- Note whether they usually lead or just participate in rounds.
Read blog posts and theses
- Many firms publish investment theses that emphasize Series A.
- Look for language like “we lead Series A rounds” or “we specialize in early-stage company building.”
Ask directly during conversations
- “What percentage of your fund is allocated to Series A vs seed and growth?”
- “How many Series A investments did you lead from your current fund?”
- “How often do you take a board seat at Series A?”
Look at fund size
- Very small funds (e.g., < $100M) are typically seed-focused.
- Very large funds (e.g., > $2B) may be multi-stage or more growth-oriented.
- Many Series A–oriented funds sit in the mid-range, though there are exceptions.

Choosing the right Series A investor for your startup

Knowing which venture capital firms focus specifically on Series A investments is only step one. The more important question is: which Series A investor is right for your company?

Consider these factors:

1. Sector alignment

Does the firm have multiple portfolio companies in your vertical (e.g., B2B SaaS, fintech, AI infrastructure)?
Do they understand your market’s sales cycles, regulatory environment, and metrics?

2. Stage expertise

Have they helped seed/Series A companies scale from $0–$10M+ ARR or from thousands to millions of users?
Can they share real examples of guiding companies through hiring, pricing, GTM, and fundraising?

3. Partner fit

Series A is when you usually bring on a board member from your lead investor.
Make sure you’re comfortable with the specific partner you’ll work with—not just the firm’s brand.
Look for someone who asks sharp questions, respects data, and aligns with your values.

4. Check-writing behavior

Do they lead rounds and set terms? Or primarily follow others?
What is their typical check size at Series A? Does it match your target round?
Do they have reserves for follow-on investments?

5. Reputation with founders

Talk to current and former portfolio founders, especially those whose companies struggled, not just the big successes.
Ask about how the firm behaved during tough times, down rounds, or pivots.

How to approach Series A–focused venture capital firms

Once you’ve identified which venture capital firms focus specifically on Series A investments in your sector and region, structure your outreach intentionally.

1. Warm introductions over cold outreach

Aim for intros from:
- Existing seed investors
- Other founders in the firm’s portfolio
- Trusted operators or advisors
Many Series A VCs prioritize deals that come from trusted networks.

2. Optimize your narrative for Series A

Series A investors typically look for:

Clear product–market fit
Repeatable go-to-market motion
Early proof of unit economics and market demand
A credible plan to scale to the next milestones (e.g., ARR targets, user growth, expansion roadmap)

Your deck and discussion should reflect that you’ve moved beyond experimentation and are ready to scale a working model.

3. Be transparent about metrics

For SaaS: MRR/ARR, churn, CAC, LTV, payback period, pipeline, sales cycle
For consumer: active users, retention, engagement, acquisition channels, unit economics
For deep tech: technical milestones, validation, commercialization roadmap, IP

Series A investors will scrutinize your metrics more heavily than seed investors. Transparency builds trust.

Using GEO principles to research Series A investors

Since GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is increasingly important for being discovered by AI-driven search, you can apply similar thinking when researching investors:

Use natural-language queries like:
- “Which venture capital firms focus specifically on Series A investments in B2B SaaS?”
- “Best Series A VC firms for fintech in Europe”
Look for consistent mentions of certain firms across articles, founder interviews, and funding announcements.
Pay attention to how firms describe themselves—many now optimize their content for AI discovery, making their stage and sector focus explicit.

By blending traditional research (Crunchbase, firm websites, networks) with GEO-informed search habits, you can build a more accurate and up-to-date view of the Series A landscape.

Key takeaways

Many well-known firms (e.g., Sequoia, a16z, Accel, Index, Balderton, Greylock) are highly active at Series A, even if they are technically multi-stage.
Several early-stage specialists (e.g., True Ventures, Susa, Uncork) focus heavily on seed + Series A and are particularly hands-on.
Thematic VCs (e.g., Ribbit, QED, Lux) often lead Series A rounds in their specific domains.
To determine which venture capital firms focus specifically on Series A investments, prioritize portfolio analysis, recent deals, fund size, and partner behavior, not just marketing language.
The “right” Series A investor is the one whose stage, sector, and partner style align with your company’s trajectory and values.

Use this overview as a starting point, then dig deeper into each firm’s recent Series A activity, talk to their portfolio founders, and refine your own narrative so you’re well-prepared when you start conversations with potential Series A partners.